Humboldt County Farm Bureau celebrates 100th birthday

The Humboldt County Farm Bureau celebrated its 100th anniversary last weekend in Samoa, in conjunction with the Timber Heritage Association's open house. The festivities included farm bureau competitions, family displays, train tours, a barn photo contest and speeder rides.

The Humboldt County Farm Bureau is the oldest in California and the second oldest in the nation. Established in July 1913, it provided the opportunity to host a farm advisor from the University of California. This position changed many of the agricultural practices in Humboldt County and provided scientific research to improve production in the county. With the development of the UC Extension Office also came the 4-H program; the Arcata and Ferndale 4-H Clubs were the first two formed in Humboldt County.

The day's competitions included a homemade pie contest. Out of more than 30 entries, the grand prize for the best pie went to Sandra Dale of Fortuna with her hot lattice-top peach pie. Second and third places were both awarded to Dorian Lowry of Ferndale with her rhubarb pie and lemon pie. Third place was also awarded to Robin Rice of Fortuna, fourth to Janet Sclar of Hydesville, fifth to Liz Ford of Arcata and sixth to Ann Kilgore of Eureka.

The catapult/trebuchet contest saw three teams demonstrating their throwing skills. First place on distance and accuracy went to the team formed by Andy Albin, second was awarded to the team organized by Cameron Dale of Fortuna and third went to Tyler Regli and family of Ferndale. More than 75 melons were flung into the air, landing between 20 and 425 feet from the starting point.

The "Barns of Humboldt County" art and photography contest drew more than 35 entries. First place went to Mary Bullwinkel of Fortuna with her photo of a barn in Southern Humboldt on Reid Mountain in the fog. Second place went to Becque Olson of McKinleyville with a barn in Willow Creek, and third place went to Jack Hopkins of Eureka with a barn at Bald Hills. Fourth place was awarded to Ann Wallace for Jack Shaw's mountain barn on Kneeland. Three awards of merit were given to Alayne Hunt of Fortuna, Pat Kesterson of Fortuna and Allison Marsh of Eureka. The youth division was won by Oliver Grant of Petrolia, with second place going to Sajien Olson and third and fourth places to Abigail Albin. More than $750 was awarded to the artists involved in the Barns of Humboldt County contest, which can be viewed at Amigos Burritos on Fifth Street in Eureka throughout August.

The highlight of the day's event was the banquet celebration at the Samoa Cookhouse. Humboldt County Farm Bureau President Greg Dale started off the evening with the introduction of Dennis Leonardi, a past president and board member, who delivered the invocation. A multitude of local products were served for dinner including Humboldt Grassfed Beef from Jay Russ and the Mora family, as well as ice cream from Humboldt Creamery. Board member Holly Kreb of Pepperwood acknowledged the local producers for their contributions to the dinner.

Guest speakers for the evening were Bob Stallman of Columbus, Texas, president of the American Farm Bureau, and Paul Wenger of Modesto, president of the California Farm Bureau in Sacramento. Also in attendance were California Farm Bureau staffers and officers Jamie Johansson, Rich Matteis, Mark Dawson, Jack Rice, Ned Coe and John Vevoda, the state bureau's district director.

Larry Ford of Arcata presented the Humboldt County Farm Bureau with a plaque from the California Agricultural Heritage Club and the California State Fair for 100 years of dedication to the agriculture industry.

The evening concluded with a special thanks to the families who have been in Humboldt County for 100 years or more and provided a family display throughout the day. These included the Russ family from Ferndale, Leonardi family from Ferndale, Renner from Fortuna, Fraser from Arcata, Holgersen from Loleta, Senestraro from Eureka, Vevoda from Ferndale, Hunt from Arcata and the Moxon family from Arcata.

Also on display was an educational exhibit of the local wheat industry in Humboldt County by John LaBoyteaux of Camp Grant Ranch near Redway. This commodity is making a return to the area and local wheat can be found in many bakeries and at local food distributors.

Another display comprised antique cars from the 1900s including a pickup truck owned by Herb and Jane Fraser, an antique car from the Harvey Harper collection and a vintage tractor provided by Wes Green of Arcata.

Humboldt County Farm Bureau is a membership-based, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and preserving agriculture in Humboldt County. It is Humboldt County's largest general agricultural organization. For more information, visit www.RedwoodAg.org or call 443-4844.

* 100-year farm and 4-H families sought

The 100th anniversary of the Humboldt UC Cooperative Extension office and its 4-H Youth Development Program will be celebrated on Sept. 13 at the Arcata Community Center. In California, Humboldt County has the distinction of being the first to establish a Cooperative Extension Department, with the appointment of the state's first farm advisor in 1913, and the first to organize 4-H clubs.

The celebration will honor those families with either a 100-year cumulative involvement in the 4-H program or in agriculture in Humboldt County. Families and individuals can nominate themselves or others with a combined 100 years or more of membership and/or volunteer service in 4-H and/or those families with deep roots of 100 years of agriculture in Humboldt County. Nomination forms are available at http://cdhumboldt.ucanr.edu or by calling 445-7351.